SIOUX CITY | Sometimes love can be sweet and gooey and covered in a rich milk chocolate.
At least that's the way Jon Sadler thinks of Valentine's Day. The Palmer's Olde Tyme Candy shoppe manager has been selling edible hearts, chocolate-covered strawberries and decadently flavorful truffles for years.
"Even though Christmas and Easter beat Valentine's Day in terms of sales, I've always enjoyed the holiday," he said. "There's something special about giving your sweetheart something sweet on Valentine's Day."
In the past, Sadler has been asked to tuck hidden engagements rings and other piece of jewelry inside boxes of Palmer candy at the 405 Wesley Parkway store.
"I always worry that some gal will end up eating the ring thinking it was candy," he said. "To the best of my knowledge, that's never happened."
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Sadler also has had husbands who want to use the same candy box year after year.
"They may have given their wives a box of candy years ago but kept the box," he said. "The boxes may be a bit shopworn but we'll fill it with more candy each and every year."
Sadler recalled the year a man asked for 64 individual pieces of candy.
"The guy requested my biggest box and the 64-count box was the largest that I had," Sadler recalled. "He said he wanted to impressed his girlfriend and I'm sure he did."
According to Sadler, making a good impression is actually quite common for candy buyers.
"In the candy business, Christmas sales can carry us through the entire month of December," he said. "People, on the other hand, will wait until Valentine's Day or the day before to pick up some sweets for their sweetheart."
So, what kind of candy will people be picking up? Sadler said traditional favorites are always in demand come Feb. 14.
"People love our frosted Rice Krispies treats on a stick," he said. "They're colorful and cute and can be personalized."
However, Sadler said it is Palmer's full line of gourmet truffles that will always send Valentine hearts afire.
"Some people say our truffles are so pretty that it's a shame they have to eat ’em," he said with a smile. "Clearly, I've never had that problem."
While Sadler said he could possibly eat as many as six chocolate truffles in a single sitting, candy sales assistant Jessica Feilmeier said she could probably eat even more.
"I guess I'm sort of a chocoholic," she admitted.
Despite that, Feilmeier was even more enamored by an oversized pink bear sitting on top of a candy counter.
"I love this bear," she said, picking up the plush toy. "This is really what I want for Valentine's Day."
But, aren't there any gifts for people who aren't really into Valentine's Day?
Why yes, there are some gifts for the chronically unromantic. Sadler showed off a box containing a Love Stinks Sugar Cookie Kit that has a mold to make skunk cookies.
"You see, the skunks will even spell out 'P.U.,'" he said, smiling. "That is, if you want them to do that."
Still, Sadler remains a believer in Valentine's Day gifts.
"There's something nice about having something sweet with the people that you love," he said. "Yeah, it's a nice holiday."
